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TeNova Axiom

Sovereign Engine

Authorizing Official Guide

Executive Decision Reference for Authorization Actions
Version 5.41.0 - Generated 2026-04-27
Prerequisites

Access to the Axiom dashboard requires an active account provisioned by your Axiom administrator. You will receive login credentials and will be prompted to enroll in multi-factor authentication (MFA) on first login. Dashboard access is at sovereign.tenova.io/login. Contact your ISSM or system administrator if you do not have credentials.

1. What is Axiom?

Axiom Sovereign Engine is an agentless, continuous compliance platform that evaluates your system's security posture against federal frameworks in real time. Unlike legacy GRC tools that rely on manual spreadsheet entry and periodic spot-checks, Axiom pulls evidence directly from live infrastructure and maps it to control objectives automatically.

Key Differentiators
CapabilityLegacy GRCAxiom
Evidence collectionManual uploads, quarterlyAutomated, continuous
Control mappingSingle framework13 frameworks, 216 controls
Assessment readinessMonths of prepAlways-current mock assessment
OSCAL outputManual authoringMachine-generated, NIST-validated
IntegrityTrust-basedSWT3 cryptographic anchors

Supported Frameworks

Axiom maps 216 controls across 13 frameworks: NIST 800-53 Rev 5, CMMC v2.0, NIST 800-171 Rev 2, NIST 800-53A Rev 5, FedRAMP Moderate, DoD RMF, and NIST AI RMF.

SWT3 Protocol

The Sovereign Watermark and Tamper-proof Trust Tether (SWT3) is Axiom's integrity protocol. Every score calculation, evidence snapshot, and OSCAL export is cryptographically anchored with a SHA-256 hash chain. This means scores cannot be retroactively altered, and any exported document can be independently verified as untampered.

2. Understanding the Sovereign Score

The Sovereign Score is a single 0-100 metric representing your system's compliance posture. It is the primary indicator you will use to gauge authorization readiness.

Score Composition

The score is a weighted aggregate of three evidence categories:

Technical
Attestation
Inherited
CategoryWeightMeaning
Technical~50%Machine-verified evidence: scans, configurations, logs pulled from live systems
Attestation~30%Human-affirmed: policies, procedures, organizational processes signed off by responsible parties
Inherited~20%Controls satisfied by the hosting provider or shared-services layer (e.g., physical security in a FedRAMP-authorized cloud)

Verified vs. Attested

The dashboard distinguishes between verified (machine-confirmed) and attested (human-confirmed) evidence. As AO, pay attention to the ratio: a score heavily weighted toward attestation may indicate gaps in technical automation. Axiom surfaces this breakdown so you can ask informed questions during authorization reviews.

What 100% means: Every mapped control objective has either verified evidence, a signed attestation, or a documented inheritance claim. It does not mean the system is invulnerable - it means the compliance documentation is complete and current.

3. Executive Summary Report

The Executive Summary is your primary decision-support view. Access it from the dashboard landing page or via /executive-summary.

Report Sections

SectionWhat It Tells You
Score GaugeCurrent Sovereign Score with trend arrow. Green (>= 80), amber (60-79), red (< 60).
KPI TilesControls satisfied, POA&Ms open, days since last scan, STIG findings count.
Family BreakdownPer-family compliance percentage across all 17 NIST 800-53 families. Identifies weak areas at a glance.
Integrity BarSWT3 chain status: green if unbroken, red if any anchor fails verification.

GSA Showstopper Status

Axiom flags controls designated as GSA "showstoppers" - findings that will halt an authorization regardless of overall score. The executive summary surfaces these prominently. Zero showstoppers is a prerequisite for any favorable authorization decision.

STIG Severity Distribution

STIG findings are categorized as CAT I (critical), CAT II (significant), or CAT III (low). The summary displays the distribution so you can assess residual risk. Open CAT I findings should receive immediate attention before authorization.

4. Portfolio View

For organizations managing multiple systems, the Portfolio View at /portfolio provides aggregate scoring across all enclaves.

Portfolio Features
  • Aggregate Score: Weighted average across all registered enclaves.
  • Direction Indicators: Each enclave shows a trend arrow (improving, stable, or declining) based on the last 30 days.
  • Drill-down: Click any enclave tile to open its full dashboard with family-level detail.
Portfolio Gate: The portfolio-level authorization gate requires ALL enclaves to score >= 80% before the aggregate is considered authorization-ready. A single enclave below threshold blocks the portfolio.

5. Reviewing the OSCAL Package

Axiom generates a complete OSCAL (Open Security Controls Assessment Language) authorization package in machine-readable JSON format.

Package Components

DocumentPurposeKey Review Points
SSPSystem Security PlanControl narratives, responsible roles, implementation status per objective
POA&MPlan of Action and MilestonesOpen findings, risk ratings, scheduled remediation dates, responsible parties
ARAssessment ResultsObjective-level pass/fail, evidence references, observation notes

NIST Validation

All OSCAL exports are validated against the official NIST OSCAL schema. The export page displays validation status: a green badge means the document passes schema validation and can be ingested by any OSCAL-compliant tool (e.g., GSA's repository).

Cross-validation and SWT3 Anchors

Each exported document includes an SWT3 anchor hash in its metadata. This hash ties the document to the score state at the moment of export. If the system posture changes after export, the dashboard will flag the document as stale, prompting a fresh export.

6. Mock Assessment Report

The Mock Assessment evaluates your system against 2,304 assessment objectives derived from NIST 800-53A. This mirrors what a 3PAO or assessment team will evaluate.

Coverage Levels

LevelMeaningAO Implication
FULLAll assessment objectives for the control have verified or attested evidenceReady for assessment
PARTIALSome objectives met, others lack evidenceRemediation needed before assessment
NONENo evidence mapped to any objective for this controlSignificant gap requiring action plan

Axiom reports these levels honestly. A PARTIAL rating means real gaps exist - it is not rounded up. The gap list enumerates every unmet objective with the specific evidence type required.

Readiness Score by Family

Each of the 17 control families receives a readiness percentage. Families below 70% should be reviewed with the ISSM to understand remediation timelines before scheduling a formal assessment.

Interview Topic Preparation

The mock assessment identifies controls that require personnel interviews during formal assessment. Axiom lists the roles that will be questioned and the topics they should be prepared to discuss, giving your team advance preparation time.

7. Posture Trend and Risk

Trend Over Time

The trend chart shows Sovereign Score history over 30, 60, and 90-day windows. Look for sustained upward trajectory before authorization. A declining or volatile score suggests unresolved operational issues.

POA&M Status

Active POA&M items are tracked with milestone dates. Overdue milestones are flagged red. Before authorizing, confirm that all open POA&Ms have realistic milestones and assigned owners.

CISA KEV Exposure

Axiom cross-references your system inventory against the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. Any KEV match is a high-priority risk indicator. Systems with unmitigated KEV findings carry elevated risk that should factor into your authorization decision.

Drift Detection

Axiom continuously monitors for configuration drift from the approved baseline. Drift events appear in the timeline and trigger score recalculation. Persistent drift patterns may indicate process failures that require corrective action before authorization.

8. Integrity Verification

SWT3 Anchors

Every score snapshot and export is anchored with a SHA-256 hash. The anchor chain is append-only: past entries cannot be modified without breaking the chain. A green integrity bar on the dashboard confirms the chain is intact.

Enclave Verification

Each enclave maintains its own independent hash chain. When reviewing a multi-enclave portfolio, verify that every enclave shows a green integrity status. A broken chain in any enclave should halt authorization until the cause is investigated.

Assessor Workbench

The Assessor Workbench provides an independent verification interface where assessors (or your staff) can validate any SWT3 anchor by entering its hash. This supports the zero-trust principle: you do not need to trust the dashboard display alone.

Verification protocol: Before signing an ATO, request the SWT3 anchor hash for the current score snapshot, enter it in the Assessor Workbench, and confirm it resolves to the score and timestamp displayed on the executive summary.

9. Authorization Decision Checklist

Use this checklist to determine whether the system is ready for an authorization decision. All items should be confirmed before signing.

Decision options: Based on your review, issue one of three decisions: ATO (authorize to operate), ATO with Conditions (authorize with specific remediation requirements and timeline), or Denial (system does not meet minimum security posture).
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